Matthew Canavan (Queensland, Liberal National Party, Minister for Resources and Northern Australia) Share this | Hansard source

I thank Senator Di Natale for his question. I too share concerns about the health of the Great Barrier Reef. I live on the Great Barrier Reef. The people of North Queensland want to see the Great Barrier Reef protected and thrive because it is such an important asset for our community both in economic terms and in environmental terms. No-one wants to do harm to the reef, Senator Di Natale. But I would point out that in terms of our mining sector and Australia's coalmining contribution we do have some of the highest quality coals in the world. It is important that our coals are available for use, because the rest of the world will still use coal-fired power, Senator Di Natale. They will simply be using coals of lower energy intensity. They will have to burn more for every unit of electricity, and there will be more carbon emissions as a result of that, which is something I am sure you do not want and we do not want either.

That is not just my view; it is not just the view of the Australian government. It is also the view of the Queensland Supreme Court, where this issue came up. Green activities took these concerns to the court and Justice McMurdo said that, if the mine that is the Adani mine proceeded, it would not increase the amount of global greenhouse gasses or any environmental impact resulting from those gasses. As a second respondent submitter, the finding of the Land Court was not that there was replacement harm but that there would be the same or greater harm if the mine did not proceed than if it did proceed. Senator Di Natale, that is pretty clear. That is the view of the Queensland Supreme Court, which rightfully and properly refers to the fact that, if we do not supply coal to the rest of the world, other people will, other countries will—mines in Indonesia will, mines in South Africa will, mines in India will and mines in China will as well. We are lucky that God has given us a very high quality coal, and we should make it available to the rest of the world to provide power to help other economies create economic growth and also to lower their environmental impact from higher quality coals.